Step 1 — Register and Log In
Visit the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards website. First-time users: click “Register” in the upper right corner to create an account. Returning users: click “Login” in the upper right corner. Once logged in, you’ll see options for “My Dashboard,” “User Profile,” and “Log out” in the upper right corner. If you’ve forgotten your password, click “Reset Password” on the login page.
Step 2 — Select Your Award Category
Click “Start Your Nomination” from the main menu. On the category selection page, choose your main award group from the upper dropdown (Cybersecurity Product/Service, Cybersecurity Company, Cybersecurity Industry Solution, or Cybersecurity Professional/Team). Then select the specific award category from the second dropdown and click “Next.”
Can’t find your category? Use the search function on the category page. If your desired category doesn’t exist yet, contact us to propose a new one. Custom categories are also available through select nomination packages.
Step 3 — Add Nomination Details
Complete the nomination form with your entry title (nominee name, product name, or company name — keep this concise without added marketing language) and company details (company name, company size, HQ country, website, etc.).
The most important part of the form is the nomination highlights section. Make sure your text directly addresses the category you’re nominating for. If you’re entering a “Fastest Growing Cybersecurity Company” category, include specific growth data. If it’s a product category, emphasize measurable outcomes and differentiation. There is also a confidential field for information you want to share with our judges only, which will not be published on the awards site.
Upload up to three images (company logo, headshot, or product screenshots) to appear on your public nomination profile page. The first image becomes the main featured image. Click “Next” when complete.
Step 4 — Review and Submit
Review your nomination details before submission. You can click “Go Back” to make corrections, or edit later from your dashboard. Click “Submit Nomination” to officially submit your entry. This takes you to the checkout page to complete activation. If you plan to submit multiple nominations and prefer to select a nomination package first, you can skip checkout at this point and return to it later.
Pro tip: Submitting multiple categories? Use the cloning icon in your dashboard to copy an existing nomination into a new submission within the same award group, then modify the details. This saves significant time for organizations entering several categories.
Step 5 — Pay Your Nomination Fee and Activate
There are two ways to pay, depending on whether you’re entering a single nomination or multiple categories:
Path A — Pay as you go. After submitting your nomination, the checkout page appears automatically. Complete payment to activate your entry. This is the simplest option for a single nomination.
Path B — Pre-pay a nomination package. If you plan to enter multiple categories, you can purchase a nomination package first from the Nomination Packages page before submitting your nominations. The package covers all entries included in that tier. After purchasing, submit your nominations through the normal process. You will still see a checkout page at the end of each submission — if you have already paid through a package, simply follow the link at the top of that page to your dashboard to see your submitted nominations. No additional payment is required.
A third party (such as a finance team member or agency) can also pay on behalf of the nominee without needing to log in. For a single company/product nomination, direct them to the STARTER package on the Nomination Packages page. For an individual professional nomination, direct them to the Individual Professional Nomination option on the same page. For multiple nominations, the PLUS or PRO packages are available. After purchase, contact info@cybersecurity-excellence-awards.com to confirm which nominations the payment should cover.
Once activated, nominations are typically reviewed and go live within 24 business hours. You’ll receive a confirmation email, and from that moment every social share on your nomination page counts as a vote toward the Community Choice Award.